There’s just nothing else like VBS. As I write this (Tuesday morning) it is the half-way mark, with two nights to go. Our workers have been amazing again, as always, with months of preparation leading up to this great week. And now the fruit of their labors is clearly seen by all, and enjoyed by these wonderful children. Thanks so much to director Kay-Lynn Hirst, decorations coordinator Barbara Trinh, and all who have worked in so many different ways to make this the incredible teaching tool that our children who have come this week will never forget.

As I said to our auditorium Bible class last week, we want more than anything else for our children to grow up in faith. We want them to cultivate and maintain that faith when they leave here, continuing to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). As we have said before, that doesn’t just accidentally happen. It takes a strong commitment to continually provide opportunities and experiences that will contribute to that goal. I am so glad to be a part of a church family that has that commitment! Our children will always remember VBS, and they will always remember with great fondness the VBS experience, the people that made it happen, and the Lord Jesus they heard about during that fun week. Again, thanks to all for caring about our children and their faith and the future of the kingdom.

We have had several new additions to our SF family, and a few to whom we have had to say good-bye. I hope that you are trying to make our newcomers and guests feel welcome. It’s certainly one of the strengths of this church, and I appreciate your efforts to make others feel at home and to get to know them.

And I hope that you will be in prayer for our community, our nation and our world this weekend especially. As Americans we celebrate the 4th of July, our Independence Day, and are grateful for the amazing blessings God has given to our nation in the past, and continues to shower upon us today. This year is a special year—in December we will mark the 70th anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and the 10th anniversary of the attacks of September 11, 2001. Being a Christian means that we pray for our nation and our world—for peace, for justice, and for the spreading of the only hope for all—the gospel of Jesus Christ.